A person who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
